Poconos Stories of 2010, No. 8: County frets, fights over NCC campus

Tuesday

Dec 28, 2010 at 12:01 AM

When the Monroe County Board of Commissioners voted to use county taxpayer money to guarantee part of the $72 million expansion plan at the local branch of Northampton Community College in Tannersville, many in the county thought it was a bad bet. The $31 million the county agreed to guarantee was coming from casino revenue, specifically from Mount Airy Casino Resort revenue.

Date: Sept. 14.

The players: Monroe County commissioners, Northampton Community College officials and Monroe County taxpayers.

What happened? It was a wild ride with an unexpected twist ending that sparked debate through the year.

When the Monroe County Board of Commissioners voted to use county taxpayer money to guarantee part of the $72 million expansion plan at the local branch of Northampton Community College in Tannersville, many in the county thought it was a bad bet. The $31 million the county agreed to guarantee was coming from casino revenue, specifically from Mount Airy Casino Resort revenue.

Those opposed to the deal wondered — what happens if the gaming industry dies? Or if local casino Mount Airy closes?

The debate wasn't just among residents, either. It divided the commissioners as well, with Chairwoman Suzanne McCool and Theresa Merli in favor of the measure and Janet Weidensaul against it. Merli and Weidensaul publicly fought over the pros and cons of the bond guarantee.

The head-scratcher came in November when NCC decided after months of debate that it wouldn't use the county's guarantee and decided to guarantee the project itself.

It left county officials, many of whom took a battering over the guarantee, wondering why they fought in the first place.

What's next? The college is expected to go ahead with its expansion plans for an addition to the Tannersville campus on Route 715.